H. Rider Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines, As A Perspective On Late-Victorian Imperialism

5 Pages 1190 Words

The late nineteenth century in Europe is most familiarly characterized as an age of Victorianism. Queen Victoria, the source of the term, reigning and living from 1837 until 1901, had much influence on the people of the time, as well as their cultures and lifestyles. Victorianism is described as having a sense of duty and respectability. Along with Victorianism, neo-imperialism describes the reign of Queen Victoria throughout the late nineteenth century. Characteristics of neo-imperialism and Victorianism are reflected through H. Rider Haggard’s 1885 novel, King Solomon’s Mines. Written as an adventure story, this novel serves as a window to see through to late-Victorian imperialism that outlined British and European capitalism in 1870s and 1880s South Africa.
With the first Industrial Revolution in Europe from 1750 to 1850, many jobs were becoming available all over Europe. With this Europeans began to expand their territories and settle as much of the land as possible. Consequentially these countries wanted more land and more power. This idea defines the term imperialism, the tendency of countries to expand their claims to more land, with was first apparent in North and South America. In the late nineteenth century and be describes as exploring neo-imperialism, in which countries began to explore the continents of Africa and parts of Asia. European interest in Africa arose with the British missionary, Dr. Livingston, born in 1813. As a missionary, Dr. Livingston went into Africa which at the time was called the “dark continent.” This term was giving to the inner plains of Africa because at the time people were only familiar with the coasts of Africa because of slave trades. Little was known about this mysterious continent at this point in history. His goal in Africa was to “Christianize” the Africans. As he did this while traveling he subconsciously taught the world about Africa. Also, Livingston was obsess...